Proposed Changes to the Marketing Order for Raisins Produced from Grapes Grown in California
USDA conducted a two-day hearing to gather evidence on proposed amendments to the federal marketing order for California raisins on February 13-14, 2024.
The Committee recommended the proposed amendments after determining a significant reduction in the size of the industry has made it increasingly difficult to fill Committee positions and conduct business. The proposed amendments would reduce Committee membership, eliminate the designated cooperative bargaining association member seat, lower quorum requirements, remove producer district representation, remove the requirement for separate member and alternate nominations, remove factors for establishing marketing policy, add language to clarify the quality of reconditioned raisins, add authority to accept voluntary contributions, and add language regarding ownership of intellectual property.
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) also proposes to make additional changes to the Order as may be necessary to conform to any amendatory changes that result from the hearing. The links for the witnesses’ testimony and supporting documents, USDA’s supporting documents, and hearing transcripts are available below. The filing of post-hearing submissions and notifications are due by 4:30 pm EST on May 1, 2024. Please send all electronic filings to the Hearing Clerk’s email address at SM.OHA.HearingClerks@usda.gov.
Transcripts
- Order Certifying Transcripts (pdf)
- AMS Proposed Transcript Corrections (pdf)
- RAC Proposed Transcript Corrections (pdf)
- Order Post-Hearing Submissions and Notifications (pdf)
- Transcript Part 1 (pdf)
- Transcript Part 2 (pdf)
Exhibits
- Exhibit 1: Notice of Hearing
- Exhibit 2: Certificate of Mailing (pdf)
- Exhibit 3: Certificate of News Release (pdf)
- Exhibit 4: Certificate of Officials Notified (pdf)
- Exhibit 5: Marc McFetridge USDA Raisin Testimony (pdf)
- Exhibit 6: Marc McFetridge USDA Raisin Economist Presentation (pdf)
- Exhibit 7: Monte Schutz RAC Chairman Testimony (pdf)
- Exhibit 8: Monte Schutz RAC Chairman Testimony, Raisin Grape Acreage History (pdf)
- Exhibit 9: Monte Schutz RAC Chairman Testimony, Raisin Industry Brochure (pdf)
- Exhibit 10: Monte Schutz RAC Chairman Testimony, Import Data (pdf)
- Exhibit 11: Monte Schutz RAC Chairman Testimony, Acreage and Age Mapping (2022 and Historical) (pdf)
- Exhibit 12: Debbie Powell RAC President Testimony (pdf)
- Exhibit 13: Debbie Powell RAC President Testimony, History of Meeting Minutes (pdf)
- Exhibit 14: Debbie Powell RAC President Testimony, Meeting Minutes (August 17, 2022) & Attachments (pdf)
- Exhibit 15: Debbie Powell RAC President Testimony, 9 Point Justification (pdf)
- Exhibit 16: Debbie Powell RAC President Testimony, Meeting Attendance History (pdf)
- Exhibit 17: Debbie Powell RAC President Testimony, RAC Vacancies (pdf)
- Exhibit 18: Debbie Powell RAC President Testimony, Proposed Reduction in RAC Size (pdf)
- Exhibit 19: Debbie Powell RAC President Testimony, List of Raisin Packers 2023/2024 Season (pdf)
- Exhibit 20: Steve Kister Sun Maid Growers Testimony (pdf)
- Exhibit 21: Gerald Chooljian Del Rey Packing Co. Testimony (pdf)
- Exhibit 22: Gerald Chooljian Del Rey Packing Co. Testimony, RAC Memo (January 30, 2006) (pdf)
- Exhibit 23: Jeff Milinovich Mariani Packing and Central California Raisin Packing Company Testimony (pdf)
- Exhibit 24: Steven Spate Independent Raisin Producer Testimony (pdf)
- Exhibit 25: Dwayne Cardoza Raisin Bargaining Association Testimony (pdf)
- Exhibit 26: Richard Crowe Black-Crowe Vineyards Testimony (pdf)
- Exhibit 27: Richard Crowe Black-Crowe Vineyards Testimony, Article from California Agriculture, “California leads in raisin production” (July 1980) (pdf)
- Exhibit 28: Richard Crowe Black-Crowe Vineyards Testimony, Top Raisin Producing Countries (pdf)
- Exhibit 29: Richard Crowe Black-Crowe Vineyards Testimony, 2023 Ag Marketing Resource Center, Raisins (pdf)
- Exhibit 30: Richard Sahatijian Victor Packing Testimony (pdf)
- Exhibit 31: Steve Kister Sun Maid Growers Testimony 2 (pdf)